Jump to content

Streaming Services


Kyle

Recommended Posts

I still have premium cable because the various online tv services never quite fit the bill or created a value proposition for me, and with the recent price increases, that is doubly so.  This is primarily because Charter/Spectrum never raised the price on a 10-year old package.

Still, we use Netflix, Amazon Prime, and the various online cable channel counterparts (as sort of on-demand ultra) to supplement cable.  I'm pretty technologically adept, but for the most part, I prefer turning on the cable and selecting something from the onscreen guide to opening up an app or a website, scrolling/searching through the various awkward interfaces and trying to select a gem from among the dreck.  Most of the time, we are inspired to watch something by seeing it halfway through on the cable guide, or from recommendations right here on the surl and we go in search of one specific show.  And it's still kind of a pain in the ass.  

Edited by TwiceHorn
  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

I still have premium cable because the various online tv services never quite fit the bill or created a value proposition for me, and with the recent price increases, that is doubly so.  This is primarily because Charter/Spectrum never raised the price on a 10-year old package.

Still, we use Netflix, Amazon Prime, and the various online cable channel counterparts (as sort of on-demand ultra) to supplement cable.  I'm pretty technologically adept, but for the most part, I prefer turning on the cable and selecting something from the onscreen guide to opening up an app or a website, scrolling/searching through the various awkward interfaces and trying to select a gem from among the dreck.  Most of the time, we are inspired to watch something by seeing it halfway through on the cable guide, or from recommendations right here on the surl and we go in search of one specific show.  And it's still kind of a pain in the ass.  

I agree with you there and if it weren't for Sportsurge, I'd probably be paying for AT&T streaming package again to get Astros games. 

I've tried:

YouTube TV

Hulu TV

AT&T NOW,

Sling

Philo

Paramount+

Peacock+

I hated Hulu and Sling's TV interfaces, Peacock+ is pretty terrible, too. 

YouTube TV and AT&T seemed to be the most easily usable.

As of now, i'm only subscribed to Peacock+ and HBO Max, and only Max because its included with my AT&T 1000 service.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am so torn on this topic... I still have cable (Spectrum) and it's ridiculously expensive.  In addition I am paying for Netflix, Amazon Prime (which I would have anyway), Apple and Disney+.  

I cannot do without local tv/networks and the ESPN and Fox...we, uh Bally Sports channels.  I have a friend who has YouTube TV and the interface/menu setup on her tv is a fucking beating.  Fuck any setup where I cannot just punch in channel numbers and go right to where I want to go.

I need a cheaper solution, but it needs desperately to not suck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

46 minutes ago, TrashMaster G said:

I am so torn on this topic... I still have cable (Spectrum) and it's ridiculously expensive.  In addition I am paying for Netflix, Amazon Prime (which I would have anyway), Apple and Disney+.  

I cannot do without local tv/networks and the ESPN and Fox...we, uh Bally Sports channels.  I have a friend who has YouTube TV and the interface/menu setup on her tv is a fucking beating.  Fuck any setup where I cannot just punch in channel numbers and go right to where I want to go.

I need a cheaper solution, but it needs desperately to not suck.

that is literally any and all streaming setups since they are app based?

If you have Google TV you just say "play ESPN" and it jumps straight to it.

the setup for YTTV is great if you have a Google TV (exclusive to that i think) but it is fine if you have Roku. the ones that are native to TVs suck almost across the board.

idk how you can say you want something that doesn't suck but then you have Spectrum?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, NoName said:

that is literally any and all streaming setups since they are app based?

If you have Google TV you just say "play ESPN" and it jumps straight to it.

the setup for YTTV is great if you have a Google TV (exclusive to that i think) but it is fine if you have Roku. the ones that are native to TVs suck almost across the board.

idk how you can say you want something that doesn't suck but then you have Spectrum?

Backed by the power of big data yttv already knows what you want to watch anyway. I've never turned it on to watch something specific and it wasn't already in one of the 3 suggested channels. 

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, NoName said:

that is literally any and all streaming setups since they are app based?

If you have Google TV you just say "play ESPN" and it jumps straight to it.

the setup for YTTV is great if you have a Google TV (exclusive to that i think) but it is fine if you have Roku. the ones that are native to TVs suck almost across the board.

idk how you can say you want something that doesn't suck but then you have Spectrum?

I have a Roku tv.  It's fine for streaming.

I want to have an on-screen guide that shows channel/program/episode info, going out several days minimum.  I want to be able to search for shows and set series to record to my DVR.  Those points are all non-negotiable for me.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 minutes ago, TrashMaster G said:

I have a Roku tv.  It's fine for streaming.

I want to have an on-screen guide that shows channel/program/episode info, going out several days minimum.  I want to be able to search for shows and set series to record to my DVR.  Those points are all non-negotiable for me.

Youtube TV has this exact option. I think you can go up to like a week out?

Their search is about a million times better than any cable/dish search. their "similar shows" is also excellent.

If you want to be able to turn on a TV to channel 12 then good luck, you will never get that with a cord cutting experience. If you want to turn on your device and say "play Top Chef" or "play ESPN2" and have it work, then you can have that experience.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, NoName said:

Youtube TV has this exact option. I think you can go up to like a week out?

Their search is about a million times better than any cable/dish search. their "similar shows" is also excellent.

If you want to be able to turn on a TV to channel 12 then good luck, you will never get that with a cord cutting experience. If you want to turn on your device and say "play Top Chef" or "play ESPN2" and have it work, then you can have that experience.

Hmm.  The YouTube tv interface that I have seen was not like this at all.  It's maddening.  Every time I turn on the guide, it's displaying the beginning of the channel list (local stations).  I page down 17 times to get to TNT, TBS, etc and click on a live show to watch - there are no channel numbers for me to punch in a number and quickly advance down the 17 pages in the guide to see that same section of channels, because when I am on TNT and bring the guide back up, I am at the top of the list again, looking at current listings for the networks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’ve had YoutubeTV since I told AT&T and Direct TV to suck it. I know you can go online and rearrange where channels are located but like someone else said my regular watching choices are shown on the Home Screen. I’ve also just recently noticed the channel lineup shows up on my Home Screen for Fire.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Kyle said:

Who is exhausted of managing myriad streaming services and longing for a single place to access everything on TV? 

On the one hand, I am.

On the other hand, I'm paying on a monthly basis:

  • Netflix - $14 a month 
  • Hulu - $2 a month (Paid for by the year)
  • Peacock - Free
  • Paramount+ - $4 (Paid for by the year)
  • HBOMax - $12? (Paid for by 6-month chunks)
  • Disney+ - $5? (Paid for by the year)
  • Amazon Prime (consider it free, as it is not why we subscribe to Prime)
  • YouTube - Free (not premium or anything, but there's always something I will watch on there)

So around $40 a month for a shitload more content, where we used to pay almost $200 for cable TV.

Yeah, not much sports, and no LHN, but when we get closer to CFB season, I'll look at options.

It's not what I wanted 10 or so years ago when we started streaming a lot, when I hoped that there'd be one place for everything, but oh well.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, TrashMaster G said:

Hmm.  The YouTube tv interface that I have seen was not like this at all.  It's maddening.  Every time I turn on the guide, it's displaying the beginning of the channel list (local stations).  I page down 17 times to get to TNT, TBS, etc and click on a live show to watch - there are no channel numbers for me to punch in a number and quickly advance down the 17 pages in the guide to see that same section of channels, because when I am on TNT and bring the guide back up, I am at the top of the list again, looking at current listings for the networks.

You can put the channels in any order you want.  You just have to log into your account on a computer.  That it goes back up to the top instead of the channel you're on while surfing is frustrating though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, TwiceHorn said:

I still have premium cable because the various online tv services never quite fit the bill or created a value proposition for me, and with the recent price increases, that is doubly so.  This is primarily because Charter/Spectrum never raised the price on a 10-year old package.

Still, we use Netflix, Amazon Prime, and the various online cable channel counterparts (as sort of on-demand ultra) to supplement cable.  I'm pretty technologically adept, but for the most part, I prefer turning on the cable and selecting something from the onscreen guide to opening up an app or a website, scrolling/searching through the various awkward interfaces and trying to select a gem from among the dreck.  Most of the time, we are inspired to watch something by seeing it halfway through on the cable guide, or from recommendations right here on the surl and we go in search of one specific show.  And it's still kind of a pain in the ass.  

Completely agree. I still have DirecTV with STARZ, HBO, SHO, TMC and Cinemax for $170 a month with 3 receivers. We do the same about starting a movie or show from the beginning that we happen up on the program guide. Get ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu package for free as part of my Verizon mobile unlimited plan. I wouldn’t pay for Hulu separately. Have Netflix and Prime. Use my mom’s Xfinity password to get Peacock without ads. Despite the extra cost, I’m glad I never ditched traditional pay TV. Not having the wife bitch about a patchwork system is worth the extra cost.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Macklemore said:

Completely agree. I still have DirecTV with STARZ, HBO, SHO, TMC and Cinemax for $170 a month with 3 receivers. We do the same about starting a movie or show from the beginning that we happen up on the program guide. Get ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu package for free as part of my Verizon mobile unlimited plan. I wouldn’t pay for Hulu separately. Have Netflix and Prime. Use my mom’s Xfinity password to get Peacock without ads. Despite the extra cost, I’m glad I never ditched traditional pay TV. Not having the wife bitch about a patchwork system is worth the extra cost.

So I am going on DirecTV for over 20 plus years now.  I have HBO (which gets me HBO Max) and Stars like you plus I pay for Prime, Netflix, Disney, AppleTV, and I get HULU through my Spotify account (although I never use HULU).  Needed a Firestick on one TV and Roku on the other to get Apple/HBO Max because my OLED LG/ cheap Samsung TVs suck and don’t have those apps built in.  I don’t want to give the ease of all of that up plus I know the channels by heart but would love to give up the wife bitching about the cost every month and telling me we should do like this neighbor or that friend that pays like nothing for YouTube TV or streaming stuff.  The simple solution would be get a divorce and that solves almost all my TV watching problems.

  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, Beantown Express 2.0 said:

The simple solution would be get a divorce and that solves almost all my TV watching problems.

Masturbating to Game of Thrones would be a lot easier with a divorce.

I will say this - going to 100% streaming several years ago (I want to say around 7 years ago) was tough, but the last year or so, with Disney+ and HBOMax, has been a bit of a game changer.  Live sports is the only thing I really miss, and I can usually find an alternative way of viewing those games, and I'm down mainly to Longhorns and some NASCAR and rally stuff.

And when I look at my watchlists on Netflix, Hulu, Prime, HBOMax, etc., there's no way I could knock them out in a year or two if I spent 3-4 hours every night watching stuff just on my watchlists, never mind shit that I'm adding every week.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...